diff --git a/deploy/k8s/projects/unrip/base/bootstrap-job.yaml b/deploy/k8s/projects/unrip/base/bootstrap-job.yaml
index 7d8895b..303c392 100644
--- a/deploy/k8s/projects/unrip/base/bootstrap-job.yaml
+++ b/deploy/k8s/projects/unrip/base/bootstrap-job.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ metadata:
   name: redpanda-topic-bootstrap
   namespace: unrip
 spec:
+  backoffLimit: 6
   template:
     spec:
       restartPolicy: OnFailure
@@ -12,7 +13,22 @@ spec:
           image: docker.redpanda.com/redpandadata/redpanda:v24.3.9
           command: ["/bin/sh", "-lc"]
           args:
-            - >-
-              rpk topic create raw.near_intents.quote norm.swap_demand cmd.execute_trade exec.trade_result
-              --brokers redpanda.unrip.svc.cluster.local:9092
-              --partitions 1 --replicas 1 || true
+            - |
+              set -eu
+              BROKERS="redpanda.unrip.svc.cluster.local:9092"
+              TOPICS="raw.near_intents.quote norm.swap_demand cmd.execute_trade exec.trade_result"
+
+              echo "waiting for Redpanda at ${BROKERS}"
+              until rpk cluster info --brokers "$BROKERS" >/dev/null 2>&1; do
+                sleep 2
+              done
+
+              for topic in $TOPICS; do
+                if rpk topic describe "$topic" --brokers "$BROKERS" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+                  echo "topic already exists: $topic"
+                  continue
+                fi
+
+                echo "creating topic: $topic"
+                rpk topic create --brokers "$BROKERS" --partitions 1 --replicas 1 "$topic"
+              done